Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed that his country will never permit the establishment of a “terror corridor” in northern Syria set up by the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). “Nobody should expect that we’ll agree to the establishment of a terror corridor along our southern border in northern Syria,” Erdogan said at a press conference on Thursday, according to Hurriyet news. He was apparently referring to the Syrian Kurds linking Kobani up with their remaining isolated western canton of Afrin, a move Turkey has long opposed. Erdogan also added that the world powers do not have to make a choice between either “Daesh [Islamic State], the [Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units] YPG or PYD terrorist organizations.” “There are no differences between these terrorist organizations in terms of method, targets and points of view regarding human life,” Erdogan said, going on to say that Turkey views “statements from some circles from the West with astonishment.” “Those who act with the logic of ‘the enemy of Daesh is our friend’ are deluded and in a position of being a friend to other terror organizations,” Erdogan said, alluding to US support of the YPG, which Turkey says is directly linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), against ISIS. Turkey intervened against both ISIS and Syrian Kurdish forces based on the western side of the Euphrates on August 24. Erdogan denied claims made by US officials which asserted that the YPG had withdrawn to the eastern side of the river. “They are saying the YPG has crossed back. We are saying no they haven’t, based on our own observations,” the Turkish president declared.
